When it comes to getting a job, we all want to find a path through life that lets us do what we love every day – whether that’s creating art, writing great code, or creating new experiences for players.

But none of that matters if the job doesn’t pay enough to keep a roof over your head and dinner on the table. And it’s even more important if you have a family to care for, or if you plan to support a family some day. Having your dream job doesn’t mean squat unless it pays a living wage.

So you’re probably wondering: Does game development pay a living wage?

Welcome to the Video Game Developer Salary series. I built this series to educate you about game industry pay, and provide tips and guidance to help you get the most from your salary. Read on to get educated – because when it’s time to bring home the bacon, knowledge is the best weapon.

Video Game Job Salary

There are dozens of different job types in the video game industry, but most of them fall into one of the “job families” below. Read the ones you’re interested in to find out the various job sub-types in the field, how much you’ll get paid starting out, and how much you could get paid with more years on the job as you grow through experience and promotions.

You’re right, but it depends on context. Sometimes when people say “developer” they mean “software developer,” which is a term for programmers. But sometimes they mean “game developer” which is a general term for anybody working on the game team.